Auto Racing 1894 – 1942

Like many automotive fads and trends, the miniature car racing movement apparently started in California in the late-1930s by individuals who constructed cars using small gasoline-powered two-stroke model airplane engines. After learning more about the little racing cars recently, and viewing some of the interesting pre and post-war newsreel films covering “spindizzies” and “tether” racing cars…

Updated: The feature image today contains a very stylish 1930 Cord L-29 with cabriolet coachwork designed by Alan H. Leamy which was chosen as the pace car for the 1930 Indianapolis 500 that year. The diver is Wade Morton, Cord’s sales manager and a veteran racing car driver who was in the 500-mile classic from 1920…

The story of the Birmingham begins when M.E. and C.C. Blood, brothers from Kalamazoo, Michigan, manufactured an automobile bearing their name between 1902 to ’06. Following that, the pair went into the business of manufacturing universal joints and other automotive components and began selling them directly to automakers. Becoming an automaker once again in 1913…

The Pushmobile became very popular in the early-teens in the greater Indianapolis area and remained so up until the mid-1930s when gravity powered Soap Box Derby cars became the new thing. In the region, the racing of the custom or home built pint-sized cars, driven by children and pushed by another child or a runner became so…

Thanks go out to everyone for your patience and feedback during last week’s shut down for a site overhaul. The Old Motor is back in operation today with exclusive photos courtesy of Roy Bertalovitz who wrote: Updated – These photos of Bob Burman, the “Blitzen” Benz, and other racing cars and drivers originate from a small…

In 1915, six years after the Model “T” first came on the market, inexpensive used or wrecked Ford’s were being converted into racing cars and speedsters. The Peoria Accessory Co. of Peoria, Illinois, introduced a new Ford racing body on the market in 1915. Then and now it is considered by many to be one of…

A little over two years ago on May 28, 2014, we posted a photo of this exceptional Model “T” Ford racing car with Clarence “Norske” Larson behind the wheel. Following the enlargeable photo below is an Update by James Taggart and a “National Auto Racing News” article by Aut Swenson in the publication titled “SPEED SMOKE – Then –…

About

The Old Motor is a comprehensive online vintage automobile magazine that is updated daily. Featured are well over eleven thousand classic car, antique car and old car photos and videos along with information about them. In addition, a quick look at our categories menu will show you other sections that... Learn more.